Method and apparatus for taking samples



Sept. 10, 1940. c. R. EDWARDS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TAKING SAMPLES 5Sheets-Sheet 1 3144mm r01,

Filed Jan. 2, 1951 Sept. 10, 1940. c. R. EDWARDS METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR TAKING SAMPLES Filed Jan. 2, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 v "WW l WV H. 4 4WNNN rill/A24 Sept. 10, 1940. c R EDWARDS 2,214,551

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TAKING SAMPLES Filed Jan. 2, 1951 s Shets-Sheet5 LB5.PER 5 5am.

INVENTOR.

54 BY km? W (61241 ATTORNEY5 Patented Sept; 10, 1940 METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR TAKING SANIPLES Charles R. Edwards, Houston, Tex.

Application January 2, 1931, Serial No. 506,107

20 Claims.

This invention relates to methods of obtaining samples from the earthand apparatuses suitable for obtaining samples from strata deep in theearth.

One object of the invention is to combine the taking of both the solidsample and the fluid sample at one trip into the well bore and to thusobtain the fluid sample from the formation before the fluid in the wellbore has time to contaminate or drive the formation fluid away from thewell bore. It is obvious that if a well is being drilled with the rotarysystem, or by any other system wherein considerable fluid is in the wellbore, the fluid present in the'well bore may mix with the fluid in theformation or even drive the fluid in the formation away from the wellbore in a very short period of time; this is especially so where thefluid common or cognate to the formation approaches the well borethrough fissures, crevices or interstices in rock or other formationsand where the fluid pressure therein is less than that of the well borefluid adjacent the formation.

Another object of the invention is to greatly lower the cost of drillingwild cat and semi-wild cat wells by taking both a geological and fluidsample at one trip into the well bore.

Another object is to be able to circulate during the times both samplesare being taken.

Another object is to be able to take both samples without withdrawingthe drill stem.

Another object is to relieve the fluid pressure above the set sealingmeans by by-passlng the drilling fluid from above the set sealing meansto below the sealing means without first unseating the outer sealingmeans.

Another object is to provide both a fluid sample chamber and a corebarrel that can be run in the drill stem and take their respectivesamples and be each withdrawn from the drill stem from the well bore.

Another object is to provide a fluid sample chamber to be operated inconjunction with a collapsible drilling in the drill stem, thecollapsible bit to be run through the drill stem and to be used touncover a stratum and the fluid sample chamber to take a sample of fluidfrom the newly uncovered stratum before the drilling fluid has time toenter the stratum and to provide for the withdrawal of the samplingchamber with its sample of fluid from the newly uncovered stratum andthe withdrawal of the collapsible bit all without the withdrawal of thedrill stem.

Another object is to take a fluid sample out of bit both of which can berun 1 the stratum under investigation, before the colloids in thedrilling fluid can be precipitated into or against the stratum to sealoil or tend to seal off the stratum and prevent or tend to prevent theegress of cognate fluid from the stratum to the well bore.

Another object is to be able to use the drill stem as casing and thusmaintain the seal off of the drilling fluids from the formation untilthe well is brought in and finished.

With the above and other objects in view, an m drill stem only, taken onthe line 22 of Figure 1 and shows the bayonet lock in the drill stem.

Figure 3 is a vertical view of the upper end of the lower inner sectionof the bayonet lock.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of the lower end of the upperouter section of the bayonet lock.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the same parts as Figure l withthe device set for taking a fluid sample which is indicated as enteringthe sample chamber along the line of the upward pointing arrows in thecenter of the view.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view showing a rat hole seal indrilling position, this seal may be used in place of the sealing meansaround the drill stem of Figures 1 and 5.

Figure 7 shows a vertical sectional view of the rat hole seal in setposition indicating by the arrows the flow of the drilling fluid.

Figure 8 is a cross view of the tester supporting ledges taken lookingdown at the upper break in Figure 1 just below the numeral ll.

Figure 9 shows an application of a pressure gauge to the tester, abroken elevation of a gauge and,a vertical section of the upper part ofone form of the tester.

Figure 10 shows in elevation parts of one form, each, of a drill'stem, abit, a core barrel, a tester, a casing, a drilling rig, and a derrick.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein the same numerals refer tosimilar parts and Figures 1 to '7, inclusive, in particular, the numeralI, I, refers to sections of pipe which may be of ordinary drill pipe.There are connected between sections of this drill pipe I suitablespecially formed sections such for example as sections 2 and 3.

Sections 2 and 3 of the drill stem may be united with some detachablejoint as; for example, the bayonet lock shown in detail in Figures 2, 3,and 4. For example, the tubular section 3 at its thickened upper end hassuitably disposed lugs or splines l3, I3, and I4, I4 facing radiallyoutwardly about the thickened 'part 4.

And the lower end of tubular section 2 may have an inwardly facingannular flange I5. Above the flange I5 and facing inwardly may beradially disposed lugs or splines I6, I8 and I|,* I'I suitably spacedand arranged to slidably and rotatively enter and interlock into asuitable flt as in Figure 1 and when interlocked the lugs I3 and I6 andthe lugs I4 and I! may both contact in pairs along their vertical radialfaces and lugs l4 and I6 may also contact along a part of the horizontalupper face of lugs I4 and a part of the horizontal lower face of lugs I6so as to transmit right hand motion from section 2 to section 3 and soas to prevent relative vertical motion between sections 2 and 3. Thesize and spacing of the lugs may be such as is shown in Figure 2permitting the section 2 to be partially rotated left handed and loweredrelatively to section 3 as is shown in Figures 5 and 7. Obviously, ifthe inwardly facing splines I6 be very materially extended in an upwarddirection so that in all positions the splines I I are engaged with I6,there can be no relative rotatlve movement between the parts 2 and 3 atany time.

The perforations III, II) in section 2, if present, may be so locatedwith reference to the lugs I6 that when the lugs of sections 2 and 3 areinterlocked the perforations II) are effectively sealed by lugs I4 ofsection 3 fitting over the perforations I0 so as to prevent the passageof fluid through perforations III. And the inwardly facing flange I5 ispreferably made to flt about the section 3 so as to prevent passage offluid through the joint or the flange I5 may have packing therein.

The section 3 may be made with an outside downwardly facing annularshoulder I8, beneath which the seal 5, which with its upper and lowerwashers I9, I3 is slidably mounted on section 3 may be located; however,this shoulder is optional.

In Figures 6 and 7, in order that seal or packer 5a may be free to slideup or down along section 3, it is suggested that the shoulder I8 maybeusually dispensed with.

The packer 5 may be any suitable conventional packer, the one shown inFigures 1 and 5 preferably being of a good grade of soft rubber ofhollow cylindrical form as shown and preferably being retained betweentwo meta-l washers as I9, I3.

The seal 5a may be any suitable seal or packer of conventional form andmaterial and preferably arranged to fit snugly around and still beslidable along the section 3.

The packers 5 and in. may be set as shown by examples in Figures 5 and 7by the weight of the upper portion of the drill stem I. In the examplesshown the bayonet lock between sections 2 and 3 is unlatched by a slightleft turn of the section 2; this may be accomplished, perhaps morereadily, by supporting the weight of section 2 and the stem I abovesection 2 on a conventional swivel (not shown) and turning to the leftfrom the top of the well until the lugs are in the relative positionsshown in Figure 2 and then lowering the upper stem I and section 2 untilthe packer 5 or 5a is set. Obviously, if packer 5a is intended to slidevery far along the section 3, then the length of the section 2 will haveto be increased.

Packer 5 is of the open hole type and is set by collapsing so as toincrease its diameter until it tightly fllls the well bore.

Packer 5a is of the rat hole type and is wedged tightly into the reducedbore of the well bore or as it is now usually called, the rat hole. Ineither event the well bore on the outside of the drill stem I isseparated into two compartments when the packer 5 or 5:1 is set. Thewall of the full size well bore is indicated by lines 28 and the wall ofthe reduced well bore or the rat hole is indicated by lines 2 I.

The drill pipe is provided with a dentated ledge 22 to support the flowtester proper during drilling or coring out of contact with the seat 6.Dents or notches in the ledge 22, shown in Figure 8, permit the drillingmud to pass the ledge while the flow tester is in position but anysuitable passageway may be substituted.

The flow tester may be provided with a ledge 23, whereby the flow testercan be located at the desired point in the drill stem. These supportingmeans, when in use, permit the passage of fluid and hold the flow testerabove the seat 6 while drilling or coring so as to permit circulationbetween the valve 6a and seat 6. The location of the ledges 22 and 23 orother support is preferably at such a point that when the bayonet lockbetween sections 2 and 3 is released as will permit the seating of thevalve or seal in on or in seat 8 before the packer 5 or 5a is seated.

That part of sleeve 1 indicated by the numeral 1 may be made a slidingflt in the upper end of section 3 as indicated in Figure 5, and, ifpreferred, this, sliding flt may also be formed so as to be a fluidtight seal, in which event, this flt may then be used as a sealing meansin lieu of the 'sealing means 6, to above described.

When it is preferred to reimpose the mud pressure more slowly on thestratum tested a perforated plug valve seat formed as indicated at 24may be secured in the lower end of sleeve 1 and a ball valve I2 may beused in connection with the same; obviously the seat 24 is not requiredwhen valve I2 is left out.

Holes may be formed in the sides of sleeve I at a suitable point belowvalve Be as at 25, to permit the exit of fluid from sleeve 1 when ballvalve I2 is used; particularly is this useful when stem 8 fits fluidtight along the cylindrical faces 21, 27a in sleeve 1, and it is veryapparent that the seal between the sleeve 1 and the nipple 4 should beabove the hole.

Sleeve 1 may be made to flt about the stem 8 8 either along the conicalvalve faces 28, 26a or along the cylindrical faces 21, 21a, or bothplaces may be made to flt and form a double seated valve.

Sleeve I is reduced in diameter at its top and may be threaded about thereduced diameter to receive a cylinder 28.

To use fluid pressure to open the fluid sample chamber a cylinder 28 isinstalled above the sleeve I to contain a piston 29 and spring 38.

The piston 23 is secured to the stem 8. A compression spring 30 ofsufiicient strength to raise piston 29 and stem 8 so as to close thefluid sample chamber is placed under piston 28 but is Is ed tubularsections desired to obtain the rock pressure applied above the piston 29will compress the spring 38.

The stem 8-preferably is perforated just below the piston 29 so as toequalize the downward thrust on stem 8 and the upward thrust on thebottom of piston 29 caused by the fluid pressure of any fluid that maybe in the fluid sample chamber.

Preferably, the areas of the valve 26, or the cross sectional area ofstem 8, and the upper surface of piston 29 are substantially about equalso as to about equalize the upward thrust on valve 28, or stem 8, andthe downward thrust on the top of piston 29 caused by the fluid pressureof any fluid in common contact with the lower end of stem 8 and the topsurface of piston 29.

The cylinder 28 is supplied with an aperture as at 3i connecting fromthe outside of cylinder 28 to within the cylinder 28 at some point abovepiston 29.

The upper end of the cylinder 28 is produced with a reduced bore so asto permit easy passage of the cylindrical portion of stem 8 and thisreduced bore is preferably provided with a gland as indicated at 9.

The upper outer diameter of the cylinder is here produced with a reduceddiameter and may be threaded.

An independent fluid receiving chamber I I may be incorporated into theflow tester and may be suitably attached to the cylinder 28; forinstance, with threads.

The fluid chamber l I may be made up of jointfor convenience. Thechamber ll may be suitably closed at its upper end or the chamber H maybe left open if it be desired to have the chamber ii extend upward toabove the fluid in the well bore or to extend to above the surface ofthe ground.

The upper end of chamber ll may be provided with a double closure, oneof which may prevent the passage of fluid in either direction; forinstance, an ordinary pipe plug as at 32. If it is of the formationbeing tested, a suitable valve may be installed at some convenient pointin the fluid receiving chamber, such, for instance, as is indicated bythe numeral 33. The pressure on the fluid received in chamber llproduced by the cognate fluid sought may be tested by using an ordinarypressure gauge above valve 33 and opening valve 33 to admit the fluidand pressure in chamber 1 l to the gauge and observing the gauge. Figure9 shows such a gauge secured to a plug 32a, having a perforatedextension that forces the valve 33 off of its seat as the plug 32a andgauge replace the plug 32 after the top of the chamber is above the topof the well; this unseating of the valve 33 allows fluid to enter thegauge 59 where its pressure can be noted to learn what the rock pressureof the formation tested is.

An estimate of the capacity of the fluid possibilities of the stratumunder investigation may be made by observing the time to fill thechamber I i this is done by noting how long the tester is left open, andin a well known manner making a computation using the above data and thearea of the passageway in stem 8 and volume of chamber I i. Obviouslythe inlet in the wall 21 of stem 8 is an orifice and the volume ofchamber II is a measure, and the fluid in chamber ll can be gauged forpressure which will determine the resistance to flow or back head andthe time tester is open are known, then by using the usual formula foundin standard engineering text books on the subject a fair comparativeestimate can be made to estimate the possibilities of the stratum.

One desirable method of operation is to fit any suitable bit or corebarrel of any desirable construction at or near-the lower end of thelower section I of the drill pipe, and to then assemble thereto neededsections of drill stem or other suitable apertured material such; forinstance, as sections 2 and 3 assembled as in Figure 1 and also asuitable sealing means; for example, either the packer or packer 5a ofsuch form and proportions as will satisfy the conditions to be met.

The manipulation, including assembling, lowering, sustaining,suspending, rotating, raising,

and other manipulations incident to the various j steps of the methodsperformed or to be performed are usually performed by means and methodsof an ordinary suitable drilling rig and the ordinary suitable equipmentusually found about such a rig and the steps of the methods are mainlysteps common to the operations, manipulations. and functions performedabout, by, and with such rigs and equipment. The distance the assembledparts are lowered at this time depend on what the next step is; forinstance, if it is desired to use the flow tester as illustrated inFigures land 5, it is necessary to only assemble and lower as' muchdrill stem as may be required to permit the top of the flow tester toprotrude a convenient distance for easy manipulation when the ledge 23is on the ledge 22.

With the lower parts of the flow tester suitably assembled; forinstance,as is indicated in Figure 1, these parts are lowered by assembling thefluid sample chamber Ii either in a unit or of sections as is desiredand lowering the same as is ordinarily used in lowering tubing of a likekind until the ledge 23 rests on the ledge 22 to support the flow testeron' the ledge 22 by the assembled portion of the drill stem.

This entire .assembly, including the cutting tool and flow tester, isthen lowered by adding more sections of drill pipe above until the bithas about reached the bottom of the well bore.

A special joint of drill stem is usually attached and used as the topjoint of the drill stem and when required, an hydraulic swivel asassembled at the top of the drill stem for convenience in rotating andcirculating.

Drilling may now proceed in any suitable manner, such, for instance, asin ordinary rotary drilling or coring and, if the rotary hydraulicsystem is used, circulation is established in any suitable manner; forinstance, with the ordinary slush pumps in a well known manner and thedrilling may proceed until it is desired to test; for instance, a newformation may be uncovered and the new stratum may be thought to bepossible of production and it may at once be decided that a flow test ofthe productive possibilities of the new stratum should be made beforethe new stratum is sealed off by the drilling mud or other fluid orbefore any defeating quantity of the fluid in the well bore has time toenter the freshlyuncovered stratum and prevent the obtaining of a fluidsample of the cognate fluid that might be normally in the new stratum. I

When a flow testis to be made the well may be very quickly sealed intothe two non-fluid communicating compartments and the stratum underinvestigation may be exposed in a compartment from which a communicationinto the flow tester can be made as desired; for instance,

section 2 of the drill stem may be slightly rotated to the left so as tounlock the bayonet lock between sections 2 and 3 and then lowered so asto seat the flow tester with valve 6a of sleeve 1 on seat 6 forming afluid seal as indicated in Figure 5 at 6, 6a, and also sealing theannular space about the packer 5 by applying weight from the upper partof the drill stem through section 2 to collapse and expand the packer 5as indicated in Figure 5 in a well kriown manner, or if the packer 5a.is to be used instead of packer 5 the weight of the upper part of thedrill stem forces the tapered rat hole packer 5a downwardly tightly intothe rat hole as is indicated in Figure 7 to form a fluid tight sealbetween the top of the rat hole and the outer surface of the drill. stem3, thus, in each example completely sealing the well in these instancesinto the two non-fluid communicating compartments. The circulation isstopped during the steps of sealing if the perforations IO are lackingor are small in diameter, because when the downward thrust on top of thepiston 29 exceeds the upward thrust on the lower end of stem 8 enough tocompress the spring 30 so as to expose the perforations in the lower endof the stem 8, the stem 8 then is adapted to communicate with the borebeneath the sleeve packer l and if this should occur before the outerpacker 5 or 5a is set the flow tester would in such an event open,before the outer seal was complete.

After the well is sealed the flow tester is then adapted to communicatewith the newly uncovered stratum under investigation so as to relievestratum pressure and permit the fluid in the stratum to be forced out ofthe stratum. In the present example the fluid flow controlling means isoperated to permit communication from the stratum to the tester chamberby lowering stem 8 in sleeve I as increasing the fluid pressure abovepiston 29 until the spring 30 yields and the piston 29 and stem 8 arelowered relative to sleeve 1 so as to expose the lower perforations instem 8 to below the seat 26a. It is obvious that as soon as this occursthe pressure in sleeve 1 above ball valve'l2 will be reduced to theatmospheric pressure in the chamber I I. (Or, if desired, the air inchamber ll could be drawn out by well known methods in which event apartial vacuum would be formed in the lower well compartment to assistin inducing a flow of fluid out of the stratum under investigation.)

It is obvious that if a stratum adjacent the lower compartment containsany fluid under pressure it may now come out of the stratum and enterthe flow tester until the rock pressure, that is, the normal fluidpressure on the fluid in the stratum, is overcome by the pressure in thelower end of the flow tester.

The fluid pressure above piston 29 may be increased in any suitablemanner to force the piston down as by using the mud pumps in a wellknown manner, to force fluid into the cylinder 28 above piston 9.

After a time cognate fluid from the stratum may enter the tester; thetime required may vary owing to conditions beyond control.

To discontinue communication into the lower end of the flow tester byclosing the lower end of the flow tester; the flow tester is raised offof seat 6 until the perforation 25 is exposed above seat 6, then fluidwill enter through 25 and equalize the pressures so as to permit thespring 30 to act and close the passageway into the tester; or if thereis no perforation 25 (25 is not positively required if valve I2 is leftout) then the tester may be raised until the sleeve 1 is above seat 6 orat least so that the enlarged part of the sleeve 1 below the seal orpacker 6a is out of the reduced bore below the seat 6.

It is also obvious that in the example shown that if the sleeve 1 israised out of its sealing position the drilling fluid will be permittedto pass into the lower compartment and thus to counterbalance the weightof the column of drilling mud on the to of the outside seal 5 or 5a.This will be found to be useful in some cases to help relieve the loadimposed on the outer seal.

This unsealing also reimposes the mud fluid pressure on the stratumtested.

Some collapsible bits and some core barrels have provisions whereby theymay be lowered and raised through the drill stem by suitable and wellknown means and methods. And the top of the plug 32 may be lengthenedand made of suitable similar proportions to co-operate with suchdevices, so that the tester can be used repeatedly without withdrawingthe drill stem in somewhat the same manner as such bits andcore barrelsare lowered and raised; such methods and means are here intended for usewith well testers.

Many other methods and ways of operating the invention than those fullyexplained are very apparent; for instance, it might be preferred not touse a wire line and grapple at the lower end of the line to manipulatethe bit, core barrel, and tester into and out of the well. If theoperator preferred to maintain circulation during the abovemanipulations suitable sealing means may be instituted about the bitbody, core barrel, and tester to substantially prevent the passage offluid around and past the bit, core barrel, or tester during thelowering and raising manipulations of these devices and the. circulationof the fluid would force these devices in or out by controlling thedirection of the circulation. Use may be made of the force of gravity tolower these devices also circulation may.

assist in speeding up the lowering operations or reverse circulation maybe used to slow up the dropping speed during the lowering operations.

The drill stem may be withdrawn to bring out the tester, or to bring outthe tester and bit or the tester and core barrel; but it is to beunderstood that the invention is intended for use in other ways than tobe lowered into" the well and to be brought out of the well by the drillstem. Other forms and modes of operations of the invention have beendiscussed and all such changes are intended and contemplated as parts ofthis invention; Nor do I intend to relinquish any part of my inventionthat is useful.

If that form of, fluid receiving chamber is used that is closed at thetop it may be desirable after the top of the chamber is in anyconvenient suitable position, as, for instance, after the top of thechamber is in operative view, to test the pressure in the chamber, by agauge 59 that now may be used to replace the plug 32 as shown in Figure9, to test the gas and liquid in the chamber, and if some solids havefound ingress to thechamberto test such solids.

Figure 10 is representative of the invention and shows a core barrel andbit similar to Dodds No. 1,235,883.

It is obvious that many other changes'i'mgach of the various parts as toform, substance, modes of operations, combinations, and methods ofapplying the invention are possible, practical, and

convenient and the scope of the invention is limited only by the claims.

What I claim is:

1. The method of obtaining both solid and substantially uncontaminatedfluid samples from a. deep earth stratum in a well bore which includesthe steps of lowering a string of pipe carrying a packer, of taking 'asample of the solid stratum in its native arrangement of parts, sealingthe well bore above said stratum and in taking a substantiallyuncontaminated sample of fluid from the stratum and lifting both samplesto the surface in the same operation.

2. The process of obtaining samples from an earth stratum, whichcomprises lowering a string v of pipe carrying a packer, taking a sampleof the stratum showing the normal arrangement of parts of the stratum,setting the packer and taking a substantially uncontaminated fluidsample from the stratum to indicate the nature of the contents of thestratum and removing both samples in a single" operation.

which includes lowering a string of 3. The method of determining thefluid contents of a covered deep earth stratum, which comprises loweringa pipe carrying a packer, a sampling means and uncovering means,uncovering the stratum, then setting the packer and sampling the fluidcontents of the stratum while maintaining the packer stationary andbefore withdrawing the uncovering means, maintaining the fluid sampleuncontaminated while removing it from the well.

4. The method of sampling deep earth stratum,

pipe carrying a packer and lowering a core sampler and a fluid sampler,rotating and lowering said pipe, packer and fluid sampler, cutting acore sample of the stratum seating said packer and immediatelyentrapping a substantially uncontaminated fluid sample of the stratumbefore the stratum is materially contaminated and before withdrawing thecore sampler and then withdrawing the samples in the same operation.

5. In a well sampling device, the combination with a string of pipe, ofmeans adapted to cut and to withdraw a solid sample carried by saidpipe, means adapted to'entrap and to withdraw a fluid sample carried bysaid pipe, said string of pipe also carrying a packer and said string ofpipe being the only metallic connection adapted to manipulate any partof said combination.

6. In a sampling device, the combination with means for cutting an earthbore and of means for receiving, entrapping and removing a substantiallyuncontaminated fluid sample from the earth in the same operation.

'I. In a well drilling apparatus, the combination which includes meansfor taking a solid sample, a second means for taking a fluid sample andthe same single support for carrying both of said means while sampling.

8. In a well drilling apparatus, the combination which includes asupporting metal tubular stem, a solid sampling device at lower end ofsaid stem adapted to withdraw a solid sample, a fluid sampling device insaid stem above said stem's lower end adapted to withdraw a fluidsample, a controlled inlet for said fluid sampling device, and a controlfor said inlet, said stem being the only metal part of said combinationthat extends to without the well when sampling.

9. In a well drilling apparatus, the combination which comprises ametaltube carrying apacker, a bit at the tubes lower end for uncovering astratum, a sampling device above the bit to receive a fluid sample fromthe stratum when the stratum is uncovered and a controlled inlet forsaid device, a control for said inlet, said tube being the onlycontinuous part of said combination that extends to without the well.

10. In an earth boring apparatus,the combination which includes a tube,a sampling device associated with the apparatus for receivinga solidsample, a second sampling device for receiving a fluid sample, acontrolled inlet associated with the apparatus and means formanipulating said inlet control, said tube being the only continuoussupport extending from said second device to without the well whilesampling.

11. In' a well boring apparatus, the combination which includes atubular jointed stem carrying a packer, a bit associated with said stemfor disintegrating earthy materials, a sampling device associated withsaid stem for receiving a fluid sample from the earth, a controlledinlet for said device to open to receive the fluid sample and to closeto prevent the entrance of fluid from below said device, and means forraising and lowering said fluid sampling device other than by said stem.

12. In an apparatus for testing a well the combination comprising astring of pipe to be lowered into a well having an inlet at its lowerend and carrying a packing for sealing the well above the inlet, saidstring of pipe being the only connection extending to above top of thewell and a valve for the inlet controlled by operative means independentof the movement of the pipe to open and close the inlet while the packeris seated.

13. Apparatus for testing the productivity of a formation encountereddna well containing fluid which includes a string of pipe to be loweredinto the well to adjacent the formation to be tested, a packerassociated with the pipe, means at the lower end of the pipe to' receivea sample from the formation including a controlled inlet opening intothe pipe, said pipe being the only part extending to above the -fluid,said controlled inlet being'operable while said pipe is stationary topermit and to prevent the passage offluid into said pipe.

14. Apparatus for testing the productivity of a formation encounteredin-a well containing drilling fluid, which includes a single string ofpipe to be lowered into the well to adjacent the formation to be tested,means lowered into the well by said string of pipe for sealing ofi thedrilling fluid from the I the lower end of said string of pipe toreceive a sample from the formation including an inlet opening into saidpipe and a valve structure including a part connected to said pipe and apart independently movable with reference to said pipe and said sealingmeans, said pipe being the only connecting member extending to withoutthe well. a

15. Apparatus for testing the productivity of a formation encountered ina well containing drilling fluid comprising a single empty string ofpipe to be lowered into the well through the drilling fluid toadiacentthe formation to be tested, a. packer lowered into the well bysaid string of pipe for sealing oil the drilling fluid from theforformation to be tested, means at mationto be tested, means at thelower end of said pipe being the only connecting member extending towithout the fluid.

16. Apparatus for testing the productivity of a formation encountered ina well containing drilling fluid, comprising a single empty string ofpipe to be lowered into the well through the drilling fluid to adjacentthe formation to be tested, a packer carried by the pipe for sealing offthe well above the formation, an inlet below the packer opening into thepipe, and a valve for the inlet, the setting of the packer beingpositively controlled by movement of the pipe, the opening and closingof the valve being independent'of the movement of the pipe and the pipebeing the only continuous connection extending to without the drillingfluid.

17. Apparatus for testing the productivity of a formation encountered ina well containing drilling fluid, comprising a single string of pipe tobe lowered into the well through the drilling fluid to adjacent theformation to be tested,

means carried by the string of pipe to permit and to prevent the flow ofcognate fluid from the formation into the pipe, said means includingrelatively movable parts, and a packer mounted on one of said parts forsealing off the drilling fluid from the formation while the passages arealigned, the other of said parts being independently movable withreference to the pipe and the pipe being the only continuous connectionextending to without the drilling fluid.

18. Apparatus for testing the productivity of a formation in a wellcontaining drilling fluid, comprising a single string of pipe to belowered into the well through the drilling fluid to adjacent theformation to receive a fluid sample therefrom and to be raised out ofthe well to remove the entrapped sample, said pipe being closed againstthe flow of drilling fluid as-the pipe is lowered into the well, apacker carried by the pipe as the pipe is lowered into the well andadapted to 'be seated by manipulation of the pipe, an inlet for the pipecommunicating with the well below thepoint at which the packer seals onthe well, and means for controlling the inlet to permit fluid from theformation to enter the pipe while the packer is set and to prevent fluidfrom entering the pipe after the packer is released and the pipe isbeing raised out of the well, said controlling means being independentof the movements of the pipe and the packer and the pipe being the onlycontinuous connection extending to without the drilling fluid.

19. Apparatus for testing a well containing drilling fluid, comprising asingle string of pipe to be lowered into the well through the drillingfluid, said pipe being closed against the entrance of the drillingfluid, means at the lower end of the pipe for receiving a sampleincluding an inlet opening into the pipe and a valve for controlling theinlet, means carried by the pipe for sealing the well above the inlet,the valve being movable to control the inlet independntly of themovement of the pipe and the pipe being the only operative connectionextending to beyond the drilling fluid.

'20. Apparatus for testing a formation encountered in a well containingdrilling fluid, which includes a single string of pipe to be loweredinto the well to adjacent the formation to be tested, a valved inlet atthe lower end of the pipe controlled from the top of the wellindependently of the movement of the pipe and a packer carried by thepipe above the inlet, said pipe being the only operative connectionextending to beyond the drilling fluid,

CHARLES R. EDWARDS.

